Bulky Zenith Vm7100 Pulls Duty In The Field And At Home

August 28, 1987|By Rich Warren.

Think of it as a lightweight home deck that just happens to fit on your shoulder and perform as a camcorder. With that in mind (or in hand), the Zenith VM7100 full-size VHS video camcorder might serve a dual purpose in your life.

Although not excessively heavy at 5.3 pounds without the battery pack

(which adds almost another pound), the VM7100 is bulky. That`s because Zenith designed it to function as a home VCR. It records not only with HQ

(high quality, a VHS picture enhancement) but also in true stereo VHS Hi-Fi, a Zenith exclusive.

Removing the electronic viewfinder allows you to lay the camera on its port (left) side. With the top carrying handle removed (it easily unscrews), the VM7100 looks like a small, table-model VCR. The tape compartment and all controls are on the starboard (right) side. The battery pack slides off the rear, and the AC power supply slides on. Since the VM7100 lacks a tuner-timer, you`ll need to rely on the supplied adapter cable to tape shows from TV, assuming your TV set has an audio-video output.

Zenith also gives you the cold shoulder by not supplying a shoulder brace. Because the camcorder is higher than it is long, it barely balances on the shoulder. Without shoulder support, your videos may appear somewhat shaky. As a small compensation for the awkward shape, the electronic viewfinder slides left and right, making it suitable for viewing with either eye and at just the right distance from the back of the camcorder.

The orange button that stops and starts recording-it`s basically a pause control-is conveniently placed for operation with the right thumb. The master record and power buttons are less logically and conveniently located. They click when operated, but you must look in the viewfinder or a liquid-crystal display to confirm their status.

A suitably positioned large rocker switch on the lens barrel zooms the six-power (6:1) autofocus lens in and out. The lens zooms at just the right speed. In camera parlance this relatively fast lens varies between f:1.2 and f:1.6 in light transmission. The charge-coupled device (CCD) image sensor-or as Zenith calls it, pickup element-is rated at a sensitivity of 8 lux and seems to justify that rating. This combination of lens and CCD performs well in low-light situations.

A stereo microphone sits above the viewfinder, parallel with the lens, poised to capture sound. Detaching it reveals stereo inputs for your own microphones or stereo sound source. Most video recordings on the VM7100 sounded a bit distant when the built-in mike was used.

Beneath the controls, a large liquid-crystal display (LCD) acts as a digital counter, although it does not show actual (``real``) tape time. A memory feature permits winding the tape to a specific point. The numbers on the counter remain on display even with the power switched off. The display also becomes a sound recording-level meter for manual adjustment of VHS Hi-Fi audio levels. Dual sliding level controls are just below the display. The camcorder also includes an automatic level control. Because simultaneously shooting a video and watching the meter proved to be impossible, the auto setting becomes a necessity. The versatile LCD also indicates mode (such as record, play, pause, etc.) and battery condition.

The port side of the VM7100 controls the camera functions. Just to the left of the lens are buttons activating the full automatic mode, manual-autofocus and fade in-out. A sliding plastic cover discloses the manual functions, including tiny pushbuttons that select white balance, shifting between automatic and fluorescent, halogen or sunlight. The auto setting works extremely well.

Additional buttons include one to turn the automatic (video) gain control (AGC) off to increase electronic sensitivity under low-light conditions;

iris buttons that override the auto-iris, permitting manual control of exposure; and, finally, a quick-review button that, when set to auto, shows you the last few seconds of your previous shots when you start recording. To reduce confusion and delay, leave the quick-review set for manual rather than automatic.

The viewfinder displays everything you need to know about the status of the camcorder, an essential feature because the controls lack any positive tactile response. The screen indicates whenever a control is in the manual position; aids focusing and iris adjustments with arrows; and not only warns of low light but also of low contrast. An ``EP`` appears when recording in the slow (extended-play) speed.

Infinity perturbs the autofocus. Even with the camcorder held steady and pointed at a large, solid object, the autofocus never seems satisfied. It tends to hunt. Other autofocus cameras with this same mechanism have worked better, so this particular unit might be atypical.